Chapter 1

Amy

The wine was sharp on my tongue, too bitter, but I didn’t care. I swallowed it down, welcoming the burning at the back my throat—anything to drown out the simmering humiliation twisting in my stomach.

I hated to admit it, but my brother had been right.

I could still hear my brother’s voice in my head—low, serious, warning me, “That guy’s an asshole. You’re too good for him.”

Dan had always been my protector, the overbearing older brother who never let me forget it. I spent years waiting for the moment I could finally step out of his shadow, to be seen as more than just Dan’s little sister.

I thought that moment would arrive when he graduated high school. I dreamed of freedom—making my own choices without my parents or teachers constantly comparing me to their golden boy, their all-star son.

But then I got the scholarship, and my parents were over the moon that I’d be attending the same college as him. More years of being his little sister. More years of his overprotectiveness dictating my life.

I wanted to show everyone that I could make my own decisions. That I could handle myself.

And I had chosen Jake—the smooth, charming, experienced college guy who made me feel like I was more than just a tagalong to my brother’s life.

But I had made a mistake.

The memory hit me like a punch to the gut. I could still see it, still feel it—the moment I walked into his apartment, all excited, thinking I’d surprise him. I’d worn an outfit he always said he liked.

I had even stopped by his favorite bakery, grabbed some of his favorite pastries, because I was that kind of girlfriend—the kind who paid attention, who cared.

I had wanted to see him, touch him, feel his arms around me, be with him.

Instead, I walked into the sound of her moaning.

The realization hit me slowly, like my brain was struggling to process what my eyes were witnessing.

Strawberry-blonde hair, flowing down bare back as she straddled him, their bodies fitting together like they were made for each other. His hands gripping her hips, his mouth on her throat, groaning like he couldn’t get enough.

The bag of pastries had slipped from my fingers, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

And then he had turned.

He hadn’t even looked guilty.

Not at first. There was this flicker of something—annoyance? —before his expression smoothed into a mask of indifference.

“Oh,” he had said, like I was just an unexpected guest.

Oh.

And then, she had turned, too—fucking Miranda, one of the girls from his Econ class. She had smirked at me, smug and unbothered, before curling her fingers into his hair, as if she wanted me to see what they were doing.

I had never felt so small in my life.

Even now, days later, the embarrassment burned under my skin.

I had spent months with him. Giving him my time, my body, my trust. And the whole time, he had probably been sleeping with other girls, laughing behind my back.

And the worst part? It all went down right before my birthday.

I took another sip, gripping the glass tighter.

“Okay,” my best friend’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “I swear to God. If you sit here any longer, moping on your birthday, I’m going to throw this wine directly in your face.”

I shot her a glare over the rim of my glass. “I’m not moping.”

Blair snorted. “Oh, really? Because from over here, you look like you’re five seconds away from writing bad poetry in your notes app.”

I sighed and sank back into the couch. She wasn’t wrong.

Blair had been my ride-or-die since freshman year. She had this effortless confidence that got her into VIP sections, free drinks, and out of trouble before it even started.

She didn’t do heartbreak.

And she sure as hell wasn’t letting me wallow in one.

She studied me for a moment, then asked, “Have you even told Dan what happened?”

I groaned, pressing my fingers into my temples. “No. And I’m not going to.”

Blair blinked. “Are you out of your mind? Why not?”

“I don’t need him going all big-brother on me and getting into a fight right before graduation,” I muttered. “Plus, if Dan found out, Kenny and Lestat would jump in and beat Jake’s ass too.”

Blair glared at me. “Yeah, I am not really seeing a problem. Fuck Jake.”

I sighed again, taking another sip of wine. Kenny and Lestat had been Dan’s best friends since middle school. They were practically family, and if Dan was the overprotective older brother, they were the muscle.

Jake wouldn’t stand a chance. And as much as I wanted to him pummeled into the ground, I couldn’t let my brother, or his friends get dragged into trouble because of him.

Blair smirked. “Well, I guess that means we have to handle your revenge in a different way.”

I rubbed at my temple. “Yeah okay, I am not even sure how I’m supposed to feel right now, let alone think of getting back at him.”

“You’re supposed to feel done with him.” She scooted closer, nudging my thigh. “And you’re supposed to be ready to move on.”

I let out a dry laugh. “That easy, huh?"

“Not easy. But necessary.” She grabbed the bottle of wine from the table, refilling my glass before topping off her own. “Do you know what the perfect revenge is?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Please, enlighten me, oh grand master of relationships.”

Blair’s grin was wicked. “Fucking someone better.”

I choked on my sip of wine, coughing as I set my glass down. “Jesus, Blair.”

She just laughed, unfazed. “I’m serious, babe. There is no better way to exorcise an ex than a mind-blowing, toe-curling, body-wrecking fuck.” Leaning in closer, her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “And I know just the place.”

A slow, nervous heat curled in my stomach. “Where?”

Blair’s grin widened. “Fantasies.”

I frowned. “Sounds like a sleazy strip club.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not a strip club. It’s a social sex club.”

I stared at her, wide-eyed. “A what?”

“You heard me.” She tossed back the last of her wine and set the glass down like she was sealing a deal. “It’s classy, exclusive, and the best part? Everyone there is horny and dtf.”

I hesitated, picking at the seam of my leggings. “I don’t know…”

Blair wasn’t having it. “Babe. It’s your twenty-first birthday. You’re officially in your wild era.”

I let out a nervous laugh. “I don’t think I have a wild era.”

Blair smirked. “Well, I do. And I’m about to drag you into it. I’ve been there plenty of times, its completely legit.”

I hesitated, picking at the seam of my leggings. “I’ve never— I mean, I don’t do one-night stands.”

“Exactly! That’s what makes this so perfect.” She turned to face me. “No messy expectations. No awkward morning after. You don’t even bring him back here. Just a hot stranger and an empty room—or maybe not so empty.”

My heart raced at the thought. A complete stranger. Someone who didn’t know me, who didn’t know my brother.

No strings attached. No pressure. Just touch, sensation, and release

“I don’t know if I can just… walk into a sex club and do that.”

Blair smirked at me. “Oh, honey. You don’t have to do anything. Just walk in with me and let the night unfold.”

I bit my lip, memories of my ex flooding back. The way he had touched her. The way she had moaned for him like he belonged to her—like he had never been mine.

Fuck that.

I exhaled sharply. “Okay.”

Blair’s eyes lit up. “Fuck yes.”

I grabbed the bottle and took a long swig straight from it. “But I’m not making any promises.”

She laughed, standing up and grabbing my hand, pulling me toward my bedroom. “Trust me. Once we get there, you won’t need to.”